Avoid Immigration Scams
Author: immigration law firm of Alena Shautsova
Immigration services are subject to scams, just like many other services offered in society. Ensuring you work with a qualified and experienced New York immigration lawyer can protect you against immigration scams. Such scams can lead to delays or never receiving legal status, or even worse, eventual deportation.
AILA warning against "notarios"
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) warns immigrants against working with notarios, which is a name for fraudulent immigration consultants. In the United States, a notary is simply a person qualified to notarize documents, but is not qualified to fill out immigration forms, give advice or other immigration services unless trained and given permission by the Department of Homeland Security (DOH). And even trained and authorized consultants cannot give legal advice or legally protect your best interests. Only a qualified and experienced New York immigration lawyer can do that.
USCIS common scams
The UCIS describes common immigration scams and signs of such scams, including:
- Promises to help you quickly obtain visas, green cards, or employment authorization documents
- Websites claiming affiliation with the USCIS, charging for free forms, and offering help with filling out immigration forms
- Websites charging fees to enter you in the diversity visa (DV), Visa or Green Card lotteries
- Services that talk about the INS (Immigration Naturalization Service), which no longer exists and was replaced by three other U.S. departments under the DOH
If you face immigration issues, do not waste time or put your case in jeopardy. Consult an experienced New York immigration lawyer.